Leg cramps during pregnancy are common among all the women especially at the time of the third trimester. Most of the mum-to-be suffers from muscle spasms that lead to cramping of the legs. So, you need not worry about the cramps occurring in your legs.
Factors Causing Leg Cramps
Leg cramps can be caused by an increase in weight gain during pregnancy as well as changes in blood circulation. The growing baby also put pressure on the nerves and the blood vessels that are spread in the legs. This pressure on the nerves is the main cause of pain in the legs.
During pregnancy, you will get a leg cramp whenever you are lying down or sleeping. So, the cramps cause spams that can create disturbances when you are sleeping at night. The spasms generally radiate throughout the legs during the daytime but it can be felt more at night. The reason behind is that after the tiredness of the day your body becomes fatigued and also due to the accumulation of fluid in the legs.
Legs cramps usually occur after the 20th week of pregnancy when your body gains weight. It increases the swelling of legs and interrupts your daily activities.
Leg cramps can also occur due to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a blood clot which occurs in the deep vein especially in the legs. At the time of pregnancy, the body produces more protein which helps in blood clotting to reduce excessive bleeding during childbirth. Due to the pressure exerted by the growing baby blood flow towards the lower body increases. So, if you remain inactive then the blood of the legs tends to clot. This clot then interferes the blood flow which then leads to the cramps in the legs.
Treatment
“Now it’s the time to know how to deal with these leg cramps.”
There are some things that you can do for reducing the leg cramps and also prevent them from reoccurring. You can try any of the following tips:
- Exercises – exercises during pregnancy reduces the leg cramps, so before going to bed you can do the stretching exercises up to 10 seconds and then relax for five seconds and repeat this stretch for three times.
- Put your feet up while you are sitting.
- Consume foods that contain magnesium such as beans, dried fruits, whole grains and nuts.
- Drink lots of fluid including water throughout the day to remain hydrated.
Whenever you are experiencing muscle cramp, you can alleviate pain by the following steps:
- Massaging the muscle to get relief.
- Apply a hot and cold compress to release the fluid accumulation in the legs.
- Take a warm bath.
If you are still having the leg cramps frequently, then do not continue with any of the above treatments. Simply contact with your doctor because frequent leg cramps might cause some different health condition and needed immediate treatment.